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General Power of Attorney (England and Wales)

A general power of attorney in the form in Schedule 1 to the Powers of Attorney Act 1971, for England and Wales. It appoints one or more attorneys, jointly or jointly and severally, to do anything the donor can lawfully do by an attorney, and is signed as a deed in the presence of a witness.

For the United Kingdom.

Download the free PDF

This page lists how to sign it in the United Kingdom. See how it is signed

First page of the General Power of Attorney (England and Wales) template
PDF, 2 pages, 11 KB
THE DOCUMENT

What it covers

The template has 1 parts.

  1. Signed as a deed
BEFORE YOU START

What you will be asked

Have these details ready. The template needs them before anyone signs.

  • On what date will you sign it?
  • What is your full name?
  • What is your home address?
  • Who will be your attorney? Give each person's full name and address.
  • If you appoint more than one attorney, must they always act together, which is jointly, or may they also act alone, which is jointly and severally?
THE PEOPLE

Who signs

Everyone the template names, and what each one does.

  • DonorSigns
  • WitnessWitness
SIGNING RULES

How it is signed in the United Kingdom

The rules for a document signed as a deed depend on where it is signed. Laws change, so check the sources before anyone signs.

United Kingdom

Print and sign in ink

Each part of the UK sets its own rules. This page covers England and Wales. Check the rules anywhere else before anyone signs.

Rules by part of the UK

Signing rules by part of the UK in the United Kingdom
Part of the UKHow it is signedE-signatureWitnessesNotaryRegistrationStamp duty
EnglandPrint and sign in inkOnly in some casesOneNot neededNot neededNot needed

A deed may be signed electronically when the witness is physically present and signs too, but many banks and registries still ask for ink.

WalesPrint and sign in inkOnly in some casesOneNot neededNot neededNot needed

The same rule as England: a witness who is physically present.

QUESTIONS

Common questions

Answers from the signing rules on this page.

Can the general power of attorney be signed electronically in England?

Only in some cases in England. A deed may be signed electronically when the witness is physically present and signs too, but many banks and registries still ask for ink.

How many witnesses does the general power of attorney need in England?

One witness.

Does the general power of attorney need a notary in England?

No. No notary is needed.

Does the general power of attorney need to be registered in England?

No. It is not registered.

Is stamp duty due on the general power of attorney in England?

No stamp duty is due.

Can the general power of attorney be signed electronically in Wales?

Only in some cases in Wales. The same rule as England: a witness who is physically present.

How many witnesses does the general power of attorney need in Wales?

One witness.

Does the general power of attorney need a notary in Wales?

No. No notary is needed.

Does the general power of attorney need to be registered in Wales?

No. It is not registered.

Is stamp duty due on the general power of attorney in Wales?

No stamp duty is due.

THE RIGHT TEMPLATE

Where it fits

For a donor in England or Wales who wants someone to act for them while they still have mental capacity, for example during a stay abroad or for a sale. It ends if the donor loses mental capacity, so for that a lasting power of attorney made on the Office of the Public Guardian forms is needed. Not for Scotland or Northern Ireland.

A CAREFUL CHECK

Before you rely on it

Original Centilio wording, not legal advice. The general power of attorney in the form in Schedule 1 to the Powers of Attorney Act 1971. Under section 10 it lets the attorney do on the donor's behalf anything the donor can lawfully do by an attorney, except functions the donor has as a trustee or personal representative, which section 10(2) excludes subject to the Trustee Delegation Act 1999. Section 1 of the Act and section 1 of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 require it to be executed as a deed, signed by the donor in the presence of a witness who attests the signature, and the witness should be an independent adult, not an attorney. It ends if the donor loses mental capacity, so it does not replace a lasting power of attorney under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, made on the Office of the Public Guardian forms and registered before use. For a power limited to particular matters, or for trustees, a solicitor should draft a specific power. Banks and HM Land Registry may ask for the original or a copy certified under section 3.